Tag: communication

REVIEW: The Cranky-Verse by Katherine Battersby

REVIEW: The Cranky-Verse by Katherine Battersby

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Cranky Chicken and her pal Speedy are back with a few new adventures:

  • First, the two friends try to figure out why their turtle, Wags, keeps saying, “Beep!”
  • Then, when Speedy gets hurt and becomes Cranky Worm, Cranky Chicken wonders if she has to become Cheerful Chicken.
  • Finally, their little family goes camping! And… fishing!?

Review

This graphic novel reader was a HOOT! I loved the sweet addition of Wags to the group. Each of the stories was a wonderful exploration of aspects of friendship – loving nicknames, seeking understanding/communication, feelings, helping hurting friends, sharing – along with an outdoorsy adventure.

The humor here is subtle but prevalent. I didn’t even know I needed to see Speedy’s version of “fishing.” (Speedy is worm…) This was a delight from start to finish! Hand this to your young readers – or cozy up with your lap readers – for these fantastic friendship tales.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Speaking by the Numbers by Sean Palmer

REVIEW: Speaking by the Numbers by Sean Palmer

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and IVP in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

The book introduces the Enneagram and the author’s premise and then digs into stances (dependent – 1, 2,6; aggressive – 3, 7, 8; withdrawing – 4, 5, 9). Within the stances sections he talks a little about orientation to time and a lot about repressed centers. From there he talks about the importance of raising repressed centers and ties that into speech-making (teaching, sermons, speeches, etc.). Each stance section includes the text of a speech and tips for speakers in that stance.

Review

This is an interesting approach to the Enneagram and a valuable niche to explore. I’ve not read an Enneagram resource from this angle before. This is definitely a second-tier resource. I would not hand this to an Enneagram novice. This will make more sense to individuals who understand not only their own number but the basics of the Enneagram as a whole. Stance information is helpful, too, although this does provide more information on that level.

This didn’t go as deep as I was hoping when I first asked to read it. Large sections of the book are taken up by the three speeches, one for each stance, that the author includes to show a technique to help raise a certain center. I would have enjoyed this more and gotten more out of it if those speeches had at least been annotated. Even better might have been a lot more shorter examples or even one section of a speech written in three ways to show the difference in how to speak to each stance. An exercise to help readers craft a message that speaks to all three stances would have been invaluable.

Ultimately this feels like a good resource on stances, but only a starting point on growing as a communicator who can think and write to engage every listener regardless of Enneagram type.

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Good, solid, fine

REVIEW: Five Ways to Fall Out of Love by Emily Martin

REVIEW: Five Ways to Fall Out of Love by Emily Martin

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Inkyard Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When Webster stood Aubrey up for Homecoming, she was devastated. And the awful things he said to her that night only added to her hurt and confusion. It ruined their friendship much less any chance at it becoming something more.

Between Webster and the disaster that is her parents’ marriage, Aubrey has become pretty cynical when it comes to love. Even when she starts dating Webster’s cousin, Holland, she is always bracing for something to go wrong.

When Aubrey puts all of her energy into examining the ways love could go wrong – both in her life and in the relationships around her, it’s a way to try to manage her fears. But it’s also a great way to make sure everything that matters most to her blows up in her face.

Review

This was a hard story to enjoy. It’s well-written, with engaging characters. But it’s also painful. Aubrey is so young to be so cynical. Her fear and self-protectiveness are understandable, but they are also sad. And they make her a hard character to like. (Webster is hard to like, too.)

I appreciated Aubrey’s journey and the transparency of the novel. Readers may find their own stories and relationships and feelings reflected in Aubrey’s experience. And her story is a great sales pitch for the value of honest communication.

Readers looking for a serious story about romantic relationships in high school, especially seniors considering the next steps of college and career, should pick this one up. (Language, sex, LGBTQ+, drinking)

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Solid/fine/good